July 21, 2011, Orlando, Florida – A major new music festival is set to launch this Fall celebrating the rich and diverse music scene from across the U.S. with headliners Bob Seger, Kid Rock and The Killers. Orlando Calling will be a weekend long action-packed festival set in America’s entertainment playground of Orlando, Florida at the world famous Citrus Bowl Park. Featuring four stages of American Artists, Orlando Calling will present platinum-selling marquee acts, icons from the genres of Blues, Country, Rock, Alternative, Nu Folk and R&B. The Festival will also showcase exciting young talent emerging from the Central Florida area and across the nation. Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 23rd at 10am at www.orlandocalling.com. Ticket package details listed below.

The Killers, will perform a rare US show, their first public appearance in over two years, as Saturday night’s headline act. Sunday night’s headliner, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, will perform on an outdoor festival bill for the first time in decades, and for a rare and unique Festival appearance, Kid Rock will join the bill. Other artists will include seminal indie rock actsThe Raconteurs and Pixies, and the popular folk rock ensemble, The Avett Brothers. ** Full list of announced performers below.

Festival fans will be able to experience all the action from the multiple stages and performance areas in a way that is accessible, inclusive, and designed as a shared celebration of American music heritage and culture. Additionally, a ‘coffee house’ venue will spotlight traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz and other legacy artists, and will promote the work of local and regional artisans, visual artists, and craft vendors.

Produced by Festival Republic, Europe’s most accomplished independent festival promoters, Orlando Calling promises to bring a genuine festival feel to an urban environment. Melvin Benn, CEO of Festival Republic who produces Glastonbury Festival as well as Reading, Leeds, Latitude and Big Chill in the UK and Electric Picnic in Ireland, Hove in Norway and Berlin Festival in Germany brings all his experience to the Florida market for the first time.

“I am massively excited at the thought of creating an American Music Festival in the sunshine state. Orlando Calling has been a long-term dream for me to realize as has been my desire to reunite a working relationship with Liam Lynch of Authentic, my creative producer,” said Benn. “This will be the first of many festivals to be held on an annual basis in this wonderful city, and to be able to present such amazing artists in the first year is very special indeed.”

Fans will be able to enjoy a downtown music festival in a major regional hub, utilizing local hotel accommodations and free and frequent shuttle bus service directly from downtown to the festival site at the Florida Citrus Bowl Park. Additional late night shows and other activities are planned throughout the weekend in Downtown Orlando.

“Orlando Calling will add another unique, cultural opportunity for our community that will also provide additional economic impact throughout Central Florida,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are excited to host this event in the recently renovated Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and to continue to bring more concerts and other events like this to that venue.”

“What makes Orlando the most visited destination in the country, with more than 51 million visitors last year, is that it continually offers new experiences for visitors from across the Globe. Visit Orlando constantly seeks new events and partners and Orlando Calling is a perfect marriage of two great brands – Orlando and Festival Republic – that creates a unique music festival experience,” said Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “It adds a really exciting music component to our world-renowned theme park attractions, growing dining and nightlife scene, world-class downtown and more.”